Day 1: Touchdown at Silay-Bacolod

Cinco De Noviembre Marker, Silay City

James: Ma, paalis na ako bukas

Mama: Ok, ingat. Saan ka nga pupunta?

James: Backpacking Trip- Negros, Panay at kung saan-saan

Mama: Ok, mag-text ka.

James: Kulang pa yung pera ko e.

Mama: Wala na akong pera.

James: (sa isip lang) Ayos! Pareho pa tayo. 'Wag nang ituloy ito...

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English version

James: (European accent) Mommm, I'll be leaving tomorrow.

Mom: Okay. Take care. Where are you going again?

James: Backpacking Trip- Negros, Panay and many more...

Mom: Okay, just text me your whereabouts.

James: (Hoping I get more pocket money) I don't have enough money.

Mom: I don't have money.

James: (just on my thoughts) Yikes! 

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That's my last conversation with my mom before I left our house on the eve of July 5, 2010 with less than PhP4,000.00 on my pocket. I am on a solo backpacking trip (July 6-21), I left my ATM card and credit cards so I don't have Plan B and not exceed my PhP250/day budget ($6.00) which includes everything- accommodation, food, transportation, etc. 

Today starts the reporting of what happened during the trip that lasted 14 days. You can check out the game plan HERE.

Lucky me, a friend of mine lend me her Nikon DSLR which would help me share the story visually. Thanks again Mitch! I also have another camera (used when running, 2MP Casio Exilim) which Imo (another friend) lend me months before.  I don't know how I will thank both of you.

Makati Skyline the morning of July 6

I woke up the next morning at 5:30am, I have to be in Terminal 2 before 8:00am as my flight is 8:40am. As usual, I was late. I arrived at T2 around 8:20am, still trying to catch my breath because I was running fast only to learn that the check-in counter is already closed (poor me) I wanted to cry. I'm familiar with this kind of situation because this happened to me a lot of times. I approached an airline officer and good thing, he allowed me to board the plane. Whew! That was one tough move. 

Nothing much to share on the plane, I was at the back near the comfort room. After about an hour travel I arrived at Bacolod-Silay Airport. 


Finally, my Php250 starts today! The EXCITEMENT on this journey just drives me crazy. I was observing at the airport, listening to "Ilonggo" conversations. I just realized that I'm on a foreign ground. Calling my 'charisma' and 'adaptability' to help me on my first day.


I started by asking the cheapest way to go to Silay town proper. I asked the van operators and they are charging me P50 (P150 to Bacolod City). There should be another way, just near the airport's gate, tricycles are waiting for passenger. The fare? P10 only. You just have to wait for the other 5 passengers (great, I saved P40). I did my first taste of Negros by eating piaya.


It's hard to tell every detail of my adventures and misadventures, so I think it would be easier if I just do some bullets of the ff:

PLACES I VISITED

Silay City

Ancestral houses complex. I did a DIY walking tour using the map given by the tourism office (you should really drop by and get the free map). You would spend about 2hours or more on the walking tour.


Cinco De Noviembre Marker. The marker say, "On this part of Silay stood the drugstore where Negrense Revolutionaries Secretly helped plan the successful revolution against Spanish Colonial forces in November 5, 1898. Hence, this street was named Cinco de Noviembre." Cool! An insightful dose of history for me, kudos to our Negrense heroes (see the 1st pic above)!

Balay Negrense. This house is among the 29 ancestral houses in Silay that the National Historic Institute had declared as national treasures. This house fuses Spanish and American architecture, made using the Balayong tree trunk as foundation designed and built by Don Victor Gaston around 1898 for his family. Open on Tuesday-Sunday (10:00am-5:00pm). Admission Fee: Adults (P40); Negros Resident (P35); Students and children (P20).

click image to see my favorite disciples

San Diego de Alcala Pro-Cathedral. Designed by Lucio Bernasconi, an Italian architect in 1920, it is famous for its dome is similar to the Basilica of St.Peter in Rome. This most enduring and biggest landmark is a testament to the Silaynon's deep faith and devotion to God.


Guinhalaran Pottery Village. Too bad it began to rain hard when I arrived here so I wasn't able to see the potters do the real thing.

Bacolod City
SM City Bacolod. No choice, have to meet someone here.
The New Bacolod City Government Center. I like its architectural design- amazing to look at especially at night with the fountain in front of it. "Sayang, I'm not with 'someone special' during that time, romantic pa naman."
Provincial Capitol of Occidental Negros.  I already shared about this here.

Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol & Bacolod City Government Center

FOOD I TRIED

Piaya. Of course! You haven't been to Bacolod if you will not taste their piaya (look at the pic below).
KBL. Kadios, Baka at Langka (beans, beef and jackfruit) is their version of Tagalog's "nilagang baboy," more tasty "namit" (delicious) I should admit. I just ate on a "carinderia" near the school, its cheaper and you enjoy the soup while perspiring.

PEOPLE I MET

Mr. Severino Pacete. He is the Tourism Officer of Silay City. He was very helpful. He even let me leave my backpack and some stuff in his office so I can do the walking tour without my heavy bag. Thanks again Sir!
Deneb A. His a friend from UPLB now based in Bacolod City. He taught me some basics in using DSLR. Thanks for the jeepney fare treats and for accompanying me to tito's home.
David Reola. At around 2pm I received a text from my mom. She said that she has a cousin in Bacolod. Great, I now have a place to stay. Thanks Tito for the overnight stay and for the dinner.
Carlos Reola  and his friend Lyndon. Carlos is my second-cousin, after dinner he toured me to the Municipal Bldg and the Provincial Capitol with his supah fast motorcycle. Thanks for the football jersey dude! I'm sorry but I have to give it to the place where I stayed in Guimaras because I have nothing to give them. 

First buy, from Bongbong's store just across the Airport

Day 1 Expenses (in Philippine peso):

P33 Piaya from Bongbong's

P10 Tricycle (from Airport to Silay Town Proper)

P58 Lunch (KBL, 2 cups of rice and a banana)

P10.50 1 500ml bottle of water

P15 Tricycle (Town to Guinhalaran Pottery Village)

P10 Jeepney (Guinhalaran to Bacolod City)

P5   Trisikad to Burgos St.

P7   Jeepney to SM Bacolod

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P148.50 ($3.30)

Brace yourself up and beat the Php148.50 record, Day 2 now up!

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thanks for reading journeyingjames- my running stories and travel discoveries-- 

let's walk, run, climb, ride, swim and fly. 

You can find me at Facebook and follow me on Twitter.

Snapshots Thursday: Heritage Village, Vigan

As I was browsing my old photos, I saw this:

Calle Crisologo, Heritage Village

This is the most photographed site in Vigan City. You haven't been to Vigan City without taking a walk here (maybe I can compare it with Intramuros). This "calle" (street) would bring us back to the Spanish era with its ancestral houses, cobblestone road, and the transportation during their days, the "kalesa" (horse-drawn carriage).

I got this shot 7 years ago (using our Old 2MP Canon set on Sepia mode).

The past weeks, I was tracing back why I love travel & photography. I learned that I seriously started traveling during college and my passion for exploring places became unstoppable.

Anyway, while doing some research, I learned that their are 5 World Heritage Sites in the Philippines (Thailand has 5; Malaysia has 3; and Singapore none). I have been to all of them except for the Tubbataha Reefs National Park (included in my Bucket List) and Paoay Church. Actually, I have blog about the 2 sites already which you can see here and here.

Side trip:

Vigan Pottery (click image to enlarge)

1. Pagburnayan. "Burnay" or Paso (pots) here are different from what we see in our homes. These are more durable because of the sand/clay used. I can still remember their was a carabao helping the potter in one of his pottery-making. I hope they still do that today.

2. Taste their Special Empanada (buy from the plaza) and take home some "longganisa" for pasalubong. 7 years ago the Vigan Empanada is just PhP20, I think it costs P35 already. 

3.  Hidden Garden. A place of solitude, an escape from the busy Manila streets. Replete with lush collection of "bromeliads, ferns, palms, bamboo and bonsai." There's a coffee shop too. I can still remember Mr. Flores as he toured us on his garden 7 years ago. He was very accommodating and he shared how he created each artwork in his garden. You can take the tricycle and tell the driver to bring you to Brgy.Bulala at Hidden Garden. Website: http://www.hiddengardenvigan.com.ph 

Bantay Belfry

4. Bantay Belfry. Built in 1591, this bellfry stands tall on a hill. Climbing to this would reawrd you the view of Vigan City. It also served as the people's watchtower to alert them against enemies. Just a 15-minute drive from the city proper and is located at Bantay district.

Helpful sites before visiting Vigan:

http://www.vigancity.gov.ph

http://vigan.ph

Vigan is about 9 hours of travel by bus from Manila (reserve your ticket first):

AUTO BUSLaong-laan cor. Dimasalang Sts.
Sampaloc, Manila
Telephone (632) 7436873
FARIñAS TRANSITLaong-laan cor. M. dela Fuente Sts.
Sampaloc, Manila
Telephone (632) 7438580 loc. 103 & 105
PARTAS TRANSITAurora Blvd. cor. Bernardo St.
Cubao, Quezon City
Telephone (632) 7257303/7251740

Alternatively, Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines have daily flights to Laoag City, Ilocos Norte which is just a 2-hour bus ride going to Vigan City.

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thanks for reading journeyingjames- my running stories and travel discoveries-- 

let's walk, run, climb, ride, swim and fly. 

You can find me at Facebook and/or follow me on Twitter.

Triple the FUN: Boracay Bloggers' Tour

Yes, The Boracay Sunset is Calling me, that with the help of SEAIR and Microtel. 

What? How? Why?

Click to enlarge the sexy image

Days ago I learn about this Bloggers' Tour to Boracay, thanks to FilipinoTraveler. So why not give it a shot, after all there's nothing wrong with trying.

I just came from Boracay 3 weeks ago during my 2-week Solo Backpacking Trip. I must admit that I even planned to erase that beautiful island from the itinerary because I know that it will easily deplete my P250/day budget. But that became more of a challenge and I just convinced that Boracay's sunset is one of the best in the world. I did the trip telling myself to stay just 1 night and 1 day.

I just need to photograph the Boracay sunset and then leave ASAP. I arrived pass 6:00pm, meaning the sun already set. I have to extend my stay and wait for tomorrow's sunset. The next day came and guess what; it was too cloudy, sorry no sunset for me. I need to stay for another day, hoping the next day would be great for that ever-eluding sunset. At 5:30pm the next day it was raining like crazy. I need to accept that this trip is not for photographing that sunset. Upset but at least I have one good reason to be back.

I consider myself a backpacker and so I need to save as much as possible in every trip I have. That would mean no staying on the hotel, no comfortable bed and no hot shower. After all I'm backpacking. I think I almost forgot how to insert use those card keys (insert weird smiley here). Would Microtel's chiropractic beds pamper me better than my hammock?

I already tried all the airlines here in the Philippines except for one- SEAIR. Therefore, I cannot compare them with others. Known for its "paradise-to-paradise" destination, I want to know if they are really serious on their mission "to satisfy customer needs and surpass their expectation." If that is their goal, then I can't wait to board the next flight to Boracay.

So I just want to thank SEAIR for this opportunity for me not only to meet fellow bloggers (that is amazing and enough for me already), but to photograph one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world. That's double the FUN. But wait there's more! Microtel adds to the fun by offering Mediterranean inspired hotel for this trip. Now that would triple the FUN. Would you be willing to make this a reality?

Start by going to SEAIR's Facebook Fan Page and pressing the "LIKE" button to make your vote count, just look for my entry. Thanks a lot!

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SEAIR, the Philippines' premier leisure airline, is known for its world-class service and dedication to its passengers, even being cited in the New York Times. It is the choice of the Jet Set Crowd, of socialites and glitterati, and of movers and shakers in the business world. So for your next flight within the country, be sure to check out SEAIR airlines Philippines -- the fastest way to experience the beauty of the islands. To learn more about SEAIR you can visit their website user-friendly website, http://www.flyseair.com/ 

Who doesn't want to experience this room beside the beach? Microtel Boracay is a Mediterranean inspired resort hotel of international brand Microtel Inn and Suites. It sports a tropical island look that is new to a Microtel property. Yet the resort facilities and services available at their Hotel in Boracay offer the same great-value-for-money convenience, comfort, and style that exist at their hotels in the Philippines, Mexico, Argentina, Canada, Honduras, and USA. Microtel Boracay is “the same great hotel everywhere you go.”  Visit their webpage to know more about their offerings, http://www.microtelphilippines.com/

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thanks for reading journeyingjames- my running stories and travel discoveries-- 

let's walk, run, climb, ride, swim and fly. 

You can find me at Facebook and/or follow me on Twitter.

Snapshots Thursday: Flying Shoes

For those who loves to travel like me, I'm very much sure that you pack your running shoes with you. I actually hand carried mine just to make sure that he will be with me at the destination. Hi name is "NewB" (New Balance MR92) he substituted "Adi0" (Adizero Ace).

NewB buckled up on recent flight to Siargao.

I took this photo while taking off from Cebu when the cabin crews are not looking. Good thing I don't have a seat-mate and the passenger across me is already asleep.

This is NewB's 2nd time to fly. His first was Manila to Cebu. Be ready NewB, you will experience a lot of traveling this year.

How I wish my running shoes flies during races too.

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